From July 14 to 24, 2026, Earth-HK research teams, with major participation from CORE members, conducted an 11-day scientific expedition along the coast of the Greater Bay Area. The expedition involved more than 30 faculty members and students from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Xiamen University, the University of Macau, and The University of Hong Kong, who contributed to its organization, preparation, and implementation.
The scientific objectives and questions explored during this cruise include: monitoring the fundamental coastal ocean environment and diagnosing its controlling dynamics under the extreme El Nino event, quantifying the gaseous and particulate water-soluble nitrogen deposition and it influence in the ocean-atmospheric boundary; identifying carbon-gas pathways/submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) contribution to hypoxia; the evolution and driving factors of the carbon and nutrient footprint in the Pearl River Estuary under the influence of human activities; and investigating the sources, cycling, and transformation processes of particulate organic matter (POM).
During the expedition, the teams conducted repeated investigations at over 90 operational sites, focusing on key areas such as the Pearl River channel, the Pearl River Estuary, and the coastal regions of Guangdong Province, extending from Shangchuan Island to Daya Bay. In addition, high-resolution frontal observations have been conducted along two sections and captured the fine scale upwelling front/river plume structure.
This cruise demonstrates CORE's regional leadership role. The observational data gathered during this scientific expedition will significantly contribute to the progress of the ocean research in GBA, aiding in the sustainable development of the terrestrial-marine-atmospheric environment in the GBA. The related research findings are expected to be released successively within the year, contributing to the building of a world-class, eco-liveable city cluster in the Greater Bay Area.
